Sinéad Ennis
South Down · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The revelation over recent days that members of the DUP, including the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots, had knowledge of the exploitation of a young woman by the now convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson raises serious questions for the DUP.”
“The bottom line here is that a dangerous paedophile went unchallenged and, worse still and despite clear, known red flags, was elected leader of the DUP.”
“We only have to look at Belfast Harbour's master plan, which sets out the possible significant economic impact that that can have. That includes enabling a quarter of all island-wide seaborne trade, which, in turn, creates £8·8 billion in gross value added and equates to 15·7% of the North's total annual output.”
“Instead, the focus must be on whether the agencies that have responsibility, including the environmental regulators and enforcement bodies such as the NIEA and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, are doing enough and whether they have sufficient powers to tackle such issues effectively.”
“The primary objective of the shaking up of driver licensing here in the North is to improve road safety by ensuring that young people are better equipped for driving on our roads. However, at present, many young people pass their tests and are completely priced out of driving because of the insurance rip-off that we are seeing.”
“That reality sees them borrowing from the Department, which is already in a very constrained capital budget position, as the Minister outlined. The provisions in the Bill will ensure that the accountability and oversight mechanisms provided by commissioners on the boards of ports or harbours will continue.”
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“Those can affect educational attainment and life opportunities and can even cause self-harm. Children's feelings are often made worse by the fact that many of them have to move home and sometimes school when their parents separate. Many families in that situation come under financial strain, even if they did not have money worries before. Even if a parental relationship has been very tense, children and young people may still have mixed feelings about the separation. Many hold on to a wish that their parents may get back together. Whatever has gone wrong in a relationship, parents still have an important part to play in their children's lives. <BR /> <BR />The current fault-based divorce process can exacerbate conflict and have a hugely negative impact.”
“At present, children and young people in the North caught in the middle of poorly managed, high-conflict family court battles are at risk of long-term trauma. The lengthy waits and acrimony involved in courtroom disputes often increase feelings of stress and anxiety for children and young people. <BR /> <BR />The breakdown of a marriage can be agonising for all involved, especially children. Therefore, it is important that we put the best interests and welfare of our children and young people first. When parents decide to live apart, children often feel as if their world has been turned upside down. They can experience a wide range of emotions, including loss, anger and confusion. While many children and young people can bounce back from a divorce, others may experience long-term emotional and behavioural impacts.”
“I struggle to think of any circumstance where a person would be better off or happier being forced to stay in a marriage where, to quote Mr Allister, they were married to a "philanderer" who was mistreating them, but perhaps that is just me. <BR /> <BR />I thank the majority of Members for their thoughtful and pragmatic approach to the debate and for the recognition that, like so much of our legislation, the legislation around divorce is outdated and does not reflect the modern, evolving society that we live in. <BR /> <BR />In winding up on the motion, like other Members, I will draw Members' attention to the impact that separation and divorce has on children. It is a major concern. Separation issues are the single most common issue for advice from the regional parenting support line.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I urge the Education Minister to work with the Health Minister and others to transform SEN services, so that children in South Down and right across the North will have their needs met properly. <BR /> <BR />If the Minister takes anything away from the debate, it should be this: I echo the call for him to adopt a SEN-first approach; to acknowledge that there is a crisis in SEN provision; and to direct the necessary resources to rectify the situation. Only then can children who need SEN provision and their families truly be served.”
“That will be transformative for children with special educational needs right across South Down. I and my colleagues will continue to work with all parties to ensure that that vital project is delivered. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge and welcome the Minister's recent announcement on the capital build programme for special schools. While it is wholly welcome, and we support it, it is a long-term project, and it will be of little comfort to families who are still unsure whether their child will have a place this September. More needs to be done to ensure that our special educational school system meets the needs of children and their families. Sinn Féin has constantly called for an overhaul of the SEN system to ensure that it meets the needs of children and their families. We must ensure that SEN is a priority.”
“The places must also be suitable to their needs and give them the very best start in life. People will know that, come September, when the term has started, we will deal with families whose kids have still not been placed. The trauma, stress and worry that that causes is wholly unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />Despite the pressures facing the special educational school system in South Down, we are lucky, as many Members have said, to have a number of schools providing top-class services to meet the needs of pupils. St Malachy's Primary School, St Malachy's High School in Castlewellan and St Louis in Kilkeel all offer excellent special educational needs provision. Sadly, that is not enough to meet current demand. <BR /> <BR />It is fantastic that planning will begin on the new Knockevin Special School.”
“The recent reports that South Down was identified as an area under the greatest pressure for special educational needs provision is, unfortunately, not news to me, to any of my constituency colleagues here or to the families who come to our offices at their wits' end, desperately seeking help. It is causing massive stress and worry for families across South Down, because they are not getting the support for their children that they so desperately need. That is a concern for the Minister and for all of us. Young people with special educational needs in South Down and their families must have access to properly funded, first-class support services. As I said, in South Down, that is not the case. <BR /> <BR />As we approach September, the Department must offer children with special educational needs a school place on time.”
“I thank my constituency colleague Cathy Mason for bringing this important debate to the Chamber tonight. I thank everybody for their contributions so far. I echo what Cathy said about it being a crisis in SEN. It is not just a crisis in South Down, although, unfortunately, we are the unwelcome headline when it comes to SEN. It is a crisis across the North. It is only when we treat it as a crisis and acknowledge that we are in crisis mode that we can begin to really sort the problem out. <BR /> <BR />Too many young people and their parents in South Down and across the North are being failed by the current system.”
“My question is in a similar vein to Paul Frew's. Perhaps the Minister is in a position to give us further details on the formal arrangements between the Probation Service and the Probation Board, specifically in relation to the management of sex offenders.”
“The bridge will open up the entire east border region. I and my Sinn Féin colleagues in County Louth will make sure that we are in place and ready to capitalise on all the positives that will come from the Narrow Water bridge. <BR /> <BR />Again, I pay tribute to everybody who has put their shoulder to the wheel and got us to where we are today. We look forward to seeing boots on the ground and work finally beginning at Narrow Water.”
“<BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the community groups and politicians from across the spectrum who have kept faith with the project, particularly my Sinn Féin colleagues on both sides of the lough, who have kept the project firmly on the agenda of both Governments over the decades. However, it is the people across South Down and those of Warrenpoint and of Cooley in County Louth who have really pushed the project and made us strive to get to where we are today: on the cusp of the project actually breaking ground. <BR /> <BR />We look forward to seeing the Narrow Water bridge progress at pace, but, of course, building the bridge is just the starting point. The work does not end there. Once we have the bridge in place, we need to capitalise on the economic and tourism potential that it will bring.”
“I, too, want to reflect on the announcement yesterday of the awarding of the contract to build Narrow Water bridge. It definitely feels like a watershed moment for the people of South Down and those who live in the Carlingford lough region, because, of course, it is a cross-border project. The people whom I represent have waited decades for that transformative project to finally get off the ground, and it really feels like we are at that point now. We have waited so long and have persevered to have the project realised because we know that it is more than just an infrastructure project. Narrow Water bridge, as I have said before, is key to unlocking the huge tourism and economic potential that we have in South Down and across the Carlingford lough region.”
“The High Court judgement yesterday proves that the British Government's Illegal Migration Act is unworkable and is not compliant with human rights. We want to see an immigration system that is fair, effective, enforced and, above all, human rights-compliant. The legislation is cruel and inhumane and has been rightly criticised and challenged by human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Commission. The British Government must now listen to those concerns and to the High Court judgement and ensure that there is no diminution of rights, as promised in previous agreements.”
“I previously raised with the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs the issue of a support scheme for the farming community recently impacted by the flooding. As the Minister said, what individual Ministers do with their funding envelope is for those Ministers. However, the Minister has previously supported other financial schemes for those impacted by flooding and other issues. Maybe she can give us a flavour of those previous schemes?”
“I appreciate the Minister's very detailed answer and the announcement about Knockevin. As he said, South Down is an area of particular pressure. That is the case across the BT34 and BT35 postcode areas. Has the Minister considered adopting a SEN-first approach for school placements for September 2024 and beyond?”
“The Narrow Water bridge is much anticipated by the people of South Down. The First Minister will know that that project is about more than just infrastructure; it is key to unlocking the huge tourism and economic potential that we have in South Down and across the Carlingford lough region. Is the Minister in a position to provide more detail on the Narrow Water bridge project?”
“Since taking office, the Minister has set out a clear and positive strategy on how to develop our economy. Will he ensure that his Department's budget aligns with that economic strategy?”
“I appreciate the Minister's answer, but the farming community feels very much left behind in help and support following the recent flooding event. I appreciate the dire financial situation that Departments are facing after years of Tory underfunding, but will the Minister commit to continuing to raise the issue with the British Government to ensure that, if additional money is found, farmers can avail themselves of financial support, which is much needed due to the recent severe flooding events?”
“— for those parents and families that, heartbreakingly, must access them. That is what they deserve, so I urge all Members to support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members may be aware that there were pre-COVID discussions — I think that they have been mentioned during the debate — with the Department of Health in the South, and the letter that I received does go on to say that those discussions have resumed and are ongoing. It would have been useful for the Minister of Health to have been here to hear that and maybe give us a personal update. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has been working to see greater all-island cooperation with regard to the paediatric pathology services so that parents can access those services on this island. That would ease the burden on families who are already experiencing trauma due to the death of a child as it would mean not having to travel to England for a post-mortem. It is time to deliver post-mortem services on the island of Ireland —”
“Just to be clear, we are certainly not closing the door to any specialised services here in the North, but efforts to secure a paediatric pathology service here have not been successful, with all the evidence suggesting that it is unlikely to be successful in the short term. We need to put first the needs and wishes of those families that have been impacted on. Certainly, my take from having met families who have experienced this is that they do not want to be separated from their child, and they cannot understand why they cannot access the services here on the island.”
“Since 2018, I think that over 800 families have been affected by this issue and have had to seek a hospital post-mortem after the death of a child. That is not an insignificant number. In July 2023, I wrote to the Department of Health, seeking an update on its work to recruit a paediatric pathologist. I was disheartened to learn that the obstacles and pressures across these islands, and globally, still exist with regard to perinatal and paediatric pathology services and recruitment. I want to quote from the response that I received from the Department of Health because it might be relevant to the amendment. Part of the response stated:”
“I remember meeting and sitting with them in their living room while they recalled their experience of baby loss and of subsequently being told, "No, you can't access the post-mortem services here. We don't have those services. Your child will have to travel to Liverpool". They were just shaken to their core. That was the most traumatic thing that had happened to them. All they wanted was to be with that baby, bury that baby and come to terms with what had happened, but they were going to have to be separated from their baby and the baby was going to have to travel to Liverpool. That is something that they have still not got over. I have been working with that family and a number of other families.”
“If that helps in any small way in the healing process for those families and parents, it is a no-brainer. I thank the Minister of Finance — it sits within her remit — for being so forthcoming in her support for that aspect of it. <BR /> <BR />I will focus my remarks more on the paediatric pathology element of the motion. As I said, the death of a child is agonising for parents and families. For over five years, the North has been left with no practising paediatric pathology, which forces families to face further heartbreak by having to take their child to Liverpool Alder Hey Children's Hospital for post-mortem services. I have been campaigning on this issue for a number of years. I was first alerted to it back in 2017-18, when I assisted a family in Warrenpoint in my constituency.”
“Pregnancy loss and baby loss is probably one of the most traumatic things that anybody can go through. I pay tribute to Kellie Armstrong for sharing her experience. I am sure that it is not easy to recall those experiences. She put it more eloquently than any of us could. I thank her for sharing her experiences with us. <BR /> <BR />Anybody who has gone through a pregnancy will know the range of emotions that you experience. You are excited, nervous and anxious, but, most of all, you just want to get through it unscathed and get to the point at which you have the baby in your arms. Unfortunately, for so many people, that just is not the reality. If we can take this relatively small step on the administrative side of things by issuing baby loss certificates, we absolutely should.”
“I take the Member's point. When it comes to how Youth Assembly Members are selected, the recruitment is a random process. It was co-designed by the young people. First, all applications were anonymised, and 54 Members were then selected on a constituency basis. It was about trying to ensure geographic spread, but I take the Member's point. It is good that we are including the section 75 categories when it comes to such things as gender, religious background, race, care experience, disability and so on. When it comes to geographic spread, it is clear that we need input from every section of society, whether from areas that are rural or urban, hard-to-reach or otherwise, or in towns or cities. I take the Member's point. When further discussions come before the Assembly Commission, we will be sure to raise the points that he made.”
“The second plenary meeting, chaired by the Speaker in February 2024, gave Youth Assembly Members an opportunity to debate the issues from the Big Youth Survey and vote on their top three priorities. Based on those priorities, three Youth Assembly Committees have now been established: Education, Health and Rights and Equality. With the recent resumption of normal Assembly business, the Youth Assembly Members are looking forward to engaging directly with Assembly Committees, MLAs and Ministers on those issues and others as their work programme develops.”
“The Northern Ireland Youth Assembly successfully recruited its second cohort of 90 Members aged 12 to 16 in October 2023. As with the first cohort, the new Youth Assembly Members are a diverse group of young people from every constituency and represent all applicable section 75 groups. The first plenary meeting of the second mandate of the Youth Assembly was held in Parliament Buildings in December 2023, during which former Youth Assembly Members officially handed over to the new Members, who spoke on their hopes for the new mandate. <BR /> <BR />In January 2024, the Youth Assembly conducted its Big Youth Survey. Almost 1,800 young people shared the issues that they wanted their Youth Assembly to focus on.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. As the victim of an attack in my constituency office, the perpetrator of which was recently given a custodial sentence, I assure him that I take the issue seriously, as, I know, do other Commission members. I assure him that we will discuss that today and at further meetings. I will write to the Member to give him an update on those discussions, but I concur with the premise of his question.”
“<BR /> <BR />At its meeting on 29 November 2023, the Assembly Commission discussed initial proposals to further increase constituency office establishment expenses for exclusive use in the provision of additional security measures and intends to consider that further at its next meeting.”
“The PSNI advises that a number of surveys have already been carried out at Members' request. <BR /> <BR />In August 2020, the Assembly Commission published the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) (Amendment) Determination (NI) 2020, which increased the quantum of constituency office establishment expenses from £2,000 to £4,000 specifically to provide additional funding for health and safety and security measures for Members. The determination also specifically permitted Members to recover the cost of security measures from their £7,000 constituency office operating expenses allowance.”
“<BR /> <BR />On 21 December 2023, the Clerk wrote to the Chief Constable to highlight further concerns raised by some Members regarding their personal security and that of constituency office staff and to enquire about what more might be done by the PSNI by way of advice and guidance and whether the PSNI was in a position to offer further security surveys at constituency offices and Members' private dwellings. The Chief Constable subsequently confirmed that the PSNI would take that forward. Personal security training for Members and their staff will be provided by the PSNI in Parliament Buildings on 30 April 2024. That will include the provision of advice on personal security and lone working and will provide an opportunity for Members only to directly request security surveys of their constituency offices and homes.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission takes the security of Members extremely seriously. It was on the agenda of recent meetings before the Assembly Commission was reconstituted. The PSNI has historically taken the lead on personal security and crime prevention advice, providing that on an individual basis to Members on request. It has included carrying out survey visits to constituency offices and providing advice and recommendations relative to personal and physical security measures.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. The Minister of Finance is due to respond to the debate on behalf of the Minister for the Economy. As per the last debate, she will follow the debate from her room.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. The Minister is not feeling well at the minute. I ask for your indulgence to permit her to watch the debate on the TV in her room. The Minister will follow the debate and respond to it when it is finished.”
“Maybe we could start by changing our language around how we speak about women in sport. For example, why does it matter what women wear? Maybe we could question why women gymnasts wear skimpy leotards while men wear trousers. Maybe we could all make an effort to attend one female-specific sporting event every month. We could maybe read more by female journalists, or maybe we could ask our clubs, no matter what sports we are involved with, how many training sessions and how much equipment, support and access the women get in comparison with their male counterparts. Maybe it is time for all of us to recognise our own sheroes, because, after all, if you cannot see it, you cannot really be it.”
“I fully support the efforts that are being made to amalgamate the men's and women's codes in the GAA, and I hope that we will finally see the fairer distribution of finances and resources. Equally, I am delighted that women's soccer teams North and South are finally and rightfully playing their games in the Aviva Stadium and Windsor Park and, hopefully very soon, in Casement Park. That should be the norm, not the exception. <BR /> <BR />We need to take every avenue that is open to all of us to promote the importance of representation for women in sport in all areas where decisions are being made. While we are using International Women's Day to speak about issues that matter to us as women, we need to make every day be about recognising integrity, authenticity and excellence in whatever form it takes.”
“Thank you. I am not entirely aware of the specific area that the Member is talking about. When government money in particular is being used, it is important that it is built into the contract that facilities are not the preserve of men and that they should be for everybody. <BR /> <BR />As I said, probably one of the biggest indignities was being denied access to our prestigious county grounds for championship or national league games. While I am glad to see that more women's matches are being played on our county grounds, it was not that long ago that we had to rely on the generosity of individual clubs to provide their facilities so that we could fulfil championship fixtures. That is both embarrassing and unacceptable.”
“The confidence that something as simple as having the right kit can give a young girl cannot be overstated. <BR /> <BR />I wish that I had more time to go into my personal experience and to give some examples of how, historically, the teams in the sports that I played were somehow less important than our male counterparts. We had hand-me-down kits, no access to proper training pitches and the added burden of having to raise funds for basic essentials such as jerseys and transport to games. The list goes on and on. <BR /> <BR />I think that the biggest indignity —”
“I clearly remember being in my late teens or early 20s before seeing women's competitive sport on TV. Even now, no matter what sport it is or what team is playing, even though I am an ardent Manchester United fan, if I see women's sport on TV, I am transfixed and have to watch it, because that was just not the norm. <BR /> <BR />The importance of visibility in the future of sport in Ireland and across the globe cannot be overstated. If women and girls do not see themselves reflected in sport, they may not realise their potential or recognise their talent, which is partly the reason why a large number of girls drop out of sport when they are in their early teens. We need to address why that is the case. There is a fundamental lack of understanding of women's bodies, such as the effect that menstruation has on athletic performance.”
“While things have, thankfully, moved on and improved since I was a kid, we need to make sure that being encouraged into sport becomes a matter not of luck but reality for all girls. <BR /> <BR />In recent years, we have seen the positive impact of national campaigns such as the national 20x20 initiative for women in sport. That seeks to highlight the impact of seeing and being role models and the essential part that they play in encouraging women and girls into sport. We know that that representation matters. It matters in sport, in politics and in all aspects of public life. I am a firm believer in the adage that says:”
“"Happy International Women's Day", or women's week, to everybody. I hope that everybody had a positive and enjoyable time over the weekend not only celebrating our achievements but advocating for greater equality. I want to use my time to highlight the inequalities that still exist for women in sport, but I also want to acknowledge and pay tribute to the organisations here in Ireland and across the globe that are working to end those inequalities. <BR /> <BR />I grew up playing competitive soccer and football at a time when there was little or no infrastructure and few facilities for women and girls to encourage us into the sports that we loved. That is why I am forever thankful to my parents, who encouraged and supported my talents.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Having sat on the Committee in the previous mandate, we know the serious psychological effects that stalking can have on victims. Can the Minister outline what wrap-around services, protections and supports are in place for people who apply for a stalking protection order or who have been the victim of a stalker?”
“<BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the businesses that were impacted for their resilience, to all our local representatives and to everybody who was on the ground getting stuck in and being there for our constituents. That is what we are there to do. As I said, we are still dealing with its impact in South Down, and we need to see a swift resolution, particularly for those people in the Mournes, and to reinforce the subsidence issues on the A2 Rostrevor Road.”
“Our weather and climate are constantly changing and are unpredictable, and all that it will take is another — mild, perhaps — weather event for those people in the Mournes and Killowen to be cut off again. It is not good enough. We need to get it sorted, and we need to get it sorted ASAP. Extended delays and closures are causing significant disruption, and it is not fair on people who live in the Mournes, the greater Mournes area and the Killowen area. We need to see the Department for Infrastructure working with different agencies, as I said, in particular, the Forest Service. I have written to the Minister for Infrastructure to ask him to liaise with the Forest Service to find a resolution to the landslide and subsidence issues at the A2 Rostrevor Road.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said, it is worrying that, months on from the collapse of the Shore Road, it remains only partially open. We are still dealing with the impact of that today. We are still seeing long delays on the Shore Road and the congestion and the headache that that brings for people who live in the Mournes and the Killowen area. They are still feeling the impact. Although I appreciate that Conor Murphy is here in his capacity as the Economy Minister, DFI also has a role to play, and we have been proactively engaging with the Minister for Infrastructure to find a resolution. <BR /> <BR />We need to understand that the potential for further landslides and further subsidence on the A2 Rostrevor Road still exists. We need a joined-up approach between DFI and the Forest Service, and we need it to be sorted out ASAP.”
“I spoke to local residents who were unable to get to work; some of them were forced to take days off, unpaid. That obviously had a negative economic impact on workers who were already struggling and added to the pressure that our local businesses were facing. <BR /> <BR />It is hugely welcome that the Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, has announced the additional support for businesses damaged by the recent floods and the financial support grants available to help those businesses to get moving. I thank the Minister for listening to the concerns of those business owners and acting as quickly as he could to get that support out the door. I hope that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council will work proactively to ensure that applications are processed as soon as possible.”
“It coincided with another flood at Ballyedmond, meaning that the people living in and around the Killowen area were completely stranded, isolated and cut off from the greater Newry area. Whole communities were locked out from accessing vital services, and I think that that highlights once again how our rural communities can be left behind in the worst of circumstances. <BR /> <BR />We often talk about regional balance in the Assembly. We often think of the west of the Bann when we talk about regional balance and imbalance; very often, South Down and the Newry area are forgotten about. The floods highlighted years of underinvestment or no investment in our infrastructure and road network. That left us completely exposed to the flooding and the unprecedented weather event that we had last November.”
“I thank the Minister for being here to respond to the debate. As many Members have outlined and as people will be well aware, the storms that hit South Down and parts of Newry last November were absolutely devastating for homes and businesses, many of which were ruined. As well as that, our road network and infrastructure around South Down have not fully recovered from the devastation that they experienced last November. A number of landslides in South Down caused massive disruption in Kilkeel and Hilltown, and I want to focus my attention on the worrying, for me and the people whom I represent in that area, collapse of the A2 Shore Road between Rostrevor and Killowen.”